By Laura Rintala
New Mexico is one of the busiest places in the art world this month. Here’s a rundown of worthwhile events in Santa Fe and beyond.
Perhaps the most celebrated event in August is Santa Fe’s Indian Market. For 90 years, Native Americans from over 100 tribes and visitors from around the world have been gathering in New Mexico to celebrate Native arts and traditions. This year’s event takes place August 20-21, featuring some 600 booths around the historic Plaza where you’ll find authentic pottery, jewelry, and much more. For more information: 505.983.5220 or www.swaia.org.
Throughout the month, galleries are abuzz with shows and openings. From August 12 to 31 Alexandra Stevens Gallery in Santa Fe presents Live, Laugh, and Love, a one-woman show of Colorado oil painter E. Melinda Morrison’s newest works. Morrison’s contemporary impressionistic style captures the musicality of dancers, the poetry of violins, and the serene elegance of young girls. For more information: 505.988.1311 or www.alexandrastevens.com.
The most comprehensive group of works by well-known artist Birger Sandzén (1871-1954) makes its way across the auction block August 13-14, during the seventh annual Auction In Santa Fe presented by Manitou Galleries. The eleven pieces are being sold by Bethany College to support its general scholarship fund. Hundreds of other pieces of art will be offered, including a silver-gelatin print by Ansel Adams and more than 100 pieces of Pueblo pottery, also from Bethany College. For more information: 307.635.0019 or www.auctioninsantafe.com.
Beals & Abbate Fine Art in Santa Fe presents new works by Raymond Nordwall and Upton Ethelbah August 18-29. Stone and bronze sculptor Upton “Greyshoes” Ethelbah draws on his parents’ Apache and Pueblo heritages when carving his stone dancers, medicine bears, and kokopellis. Nordwall attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, and focuses primarily on contemporary Native heritage works. For more information: 505.438.8881 or www.bealsandabbate.com.
Three separate shows are on view at Blue Rain Gallery in downtown Santa Fe from July 29 to August 13: still lifes by Roseta Santiago, devotional sculpture by Gustavo Victor Goler, and paintings by Brandon Maldonado. From August 4 to 7, during SOFA West, the gallery displays new works in glass by Shelley Muzylowski Allen. Blue Rain celebrates Indian Market August 17-21 with its Annual Celebration of Contemporary Native American Art. For more information: 505.954.9902 or www.blueraingallery.com.
Through August 21 Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe presents 3 Perspectives: Woodblock Prints and Pastels by Leon Loughridge. From July 29 to September 24 the gallery displays Romantic Contours, Modern Terrain—an exhibition of naturalist painters and sculptors Tony Angell, Arturo Chavez, Steve Kestrel, James Morgan, and Jeri Nichols Quinn. From August 5 to October 1 the gallery presents Land Use/Misuse: The Celebration and Exploitation of the American Landscape. For more information: 505.954.5719 or www.gpgallery.com.
Frank Howell Gallery in Santa Fe hosts three shows for the month of August: A showing of Jammey Huggins’ works opens August 5. Ray Tracey’s works are on display beginning August 19 and Bill Worrell’s works beginning August 19. For more information: 505.984.1074 or www.frankhowellgallery.com.
The Great Mystery by Robert Taylor at Gallery 822
Celebrating Indian Market during the month of August, Gallery 822 displays new works by gallery artists, featuring Native-themed works by artists K. Henderson and Robert Taylor as well as works by sculptor Joshua Tobey and new gallery painter Trevor V. Swanson. For more information: 505.989.1700 or www.gallery822.com.
Artist Britt Freda’s Seeds and Stones exhibit is on display at Giacobbe-Fritz Fine Art in Santa Fe August 5-17. Freda’s new acrylic and graphite works are about conceptual seeds: “sowing and growing ideas.” From August 19 to September 1, the gallery hosts Craig Kosak’s newest works. Meet Kosak from 5 to 7 p.m. on August 19. For more information: 505.986.1156 or www.giacobbefritz.com.
Manitou Galleries in Santa Fe hosts multiple shows and events to celebrate Indian Market. First are new works by Billy Schenck from July 29 to August 12. From August 5 to 19, Manitou displays new works by bronze sculptor Star Liana York and oil painter B.C. Nowlin. Finally, August 18 to 21, the gallery celebrates Indian Market with a group show featuring the work of painter Miguel Martinez. All gallery artists will be on exhibit with many in attendance throughout the weekend. For more information: 505.986.9833 or www.manitougalleries.com.
Two solo exhibitions take place at Matthews Gallery in Santa Fe in August. Kate Rivers’ Pastiche (August 5-18) features collages from everyday ephemera that reflect life’s memories. Magical Realism (August 19 to September 1) is a collection of paintings by Diane White, who uses traditional still-life techniques but incorporates the magical realism of the genre of writers that includes Gabriel Garcia Márquez. For more information: 505.992.2882 or www.thematthewsgallery.com.
From July 29 to August 12 Medicine Man Gallery in Santa Fe hosts Dennis Ziemienski’s exhibit West Along the Mother Road, Route 66. From August 12 to September 15 the gallery displays more than 70 pieces of pottery by the Maria Martinez family. Navajo artist Shonto Begay’s new works are on display August 19-September 22. Begay’s expressionistic acrylic paintings capture the myths, dilemmas, and joys of growing up Native American in the modern world. For more information: 505.820.7451 or www.medicinemangallery.com.
Meyer East Gallery in Santa Fe opens August showing Melinda K. Hall’s works titled Just Paint, August 5-18. Robert LaDuke’s new works are on display August 12-24, and Brian T. Kershisnik’s new works can be viewed August 19 to September 1. For more information: 505.983.1657 or www.meyereastgallery.com.
Morning Star Gallery in Santa Fe presents historic pottery, textiles, beadwork, and basketry along with modern works by artists Nathan Youngblood and Dwayne Wilcox. The show opens August 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information: 505.982.8187 or www.morningstargallery.com.
Gilberto Romero’s one-of-a-kind sculptures are on display July 27 to August 10 at Pippin Meikle Fine Art in Santa Fe. Aleta Pippin’s Energy in Motion, abstract works painted to music, is on view from August 17 to September 7. To close August, the gallery displays The Figure Revealed, August 24 to September 7. The pieces come from a variety of gallery and guest artists in multiple styles and mediums. For more information: 505.992.0400 or www.artsantafe.us.
For the first time the Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art shares center stage with the International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair, SOFA West, August 4 to 7 in Santa Fe. One ticket admits visitors to both fairs and their related lecture series, special exhibits, and events. For more information: 800.563.7632 or www.sofaexpo.com.
From August 5 to 27 Sumner & Dene Gallery in Albuquerque celebrates the works and new book of local landscape painter Angus Macpherson, whose paintings of dramatic skies are fluid compositions of the grand and intimate simultaneously. For more information: 505.842.1400 or www.sumnerdene.com.
Aspen Indian Summer by David Mayer at Total Arts Gallery
A two-man show featuring landscapes by David Mayer and J. Chris Morel is on display from August 6 to 28 at Total Arts Gallery in Taos. Mayer and Morel, both plein-air oil painters, capture the landscapes of the West and Southwest in highly contrasting styles. For more information: 575.758.4667 or www.totalartsgallery.com.
View Doug Dawson’s Town and Country exhibit at Ventana Fine Art in Santa Fe July 29-August 15. Dawson is a master of oil and pastel and a celebrated teacher in both. Opening August 19 is Ventana’s celebration of Indian Market featuring the works of gallery artists John Axton, John Nieto, and Rebecca Tobey. For more information: 505.983.8815 or www.ventanafineart.com.
Catching Light is a one-woman show of Suzanne Donazetti’s woven copper sculptures, on view August 2 to 15 at Waxlander Gallery in Santa Fe. Journey of My People, new paintings by Native American expressionist Bruce King, is on display August 16 to 29. King brings to life Native American themes in a post-impressionistic style. For more information: 505.984.2202 or www.waxlander.com.
Featured in August 2011.
